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Esteem Finishes Third In Comeback Attempt Ziegler Colt Trails Red Stick And Buzfuz in Belmont Sprint ELMONT. L. I., N. Y.. June 22.— Another leading two-year-old of 1944 met with a humiliating defeat in his 1945 debut when William Zieglers Esteem could finish no better than third, beaten five lengths in the six-furlong Brookwood Purse. Mrs. W. i M. Jeffords" Red Stick, ridden by Ted Atkinson, won the dash by a length from Sunshine Stables Buzfuz, while the odds-on favorite closed fairly well to be third, four lengths back of the runner-up and a similar margin before Mill River Stables Hedron. The Brookwood was a fast race, the winner being timed in 1 ills over a muddy track. Red Stick broke out of the maiden ranks at Jamaica in a sprint in which he beat Buzfuz a nose. Today he paid his few backers in the crowd of 24.645 a lucrative 1.80. There was no apparent excuse for Esteem, who broke rather slowly as usual, moved into second place before reaching the far turn, then abruptly dropped back into the ruck, though apparently not suffering any interference. The fact that the half was run in :46% may have accounted for his being unable to keep pace with the leaders. Meanwhile. Buzfuz and Hedron were cutting out a sizzling pace, with Red Stick in close pursuit. Esteem began to run again coming to the stretch turn and improved his position somewhat, but while Hedron fell back beaten. Red Stick and Buzfuz were both out of danger from any finishing spurt that Esteem could provide today. Johnny Adams scored a double when he piloted Philip Biebers Oatmeal to a half-length victory in the mile and one-half Elkwood Handicap, which was the nominal feature. Adams had previously won the fourth race aboard Fire Warden. Joseph M. Roeblings Magellan finished second in the Elkwood, a length and a half before Mrs. M. Pattersons Futurama, while the favored Blue Whistler was a similar distance further back in fourth place. Boone Hall Stables Wings completed the field.
